Clamp.



R. J. REEDER.

CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. |919.

` 1,319,900. Patented OCI. 28,1919.

Y Alr`". A

RALPH J. REEDER, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP.

Speci-caton of Letters Patent.

Patenteaoet. 2s, 1919.

Application filed February 24, 1919. Serial No. 278,958.

To all whom t may concerne Be it known that I, RALPH J. REEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the coimty of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tools, and more particularly to an improved clamp, the object of the invention being to Vprovide a clamp so constructed that two pieces to be operated upon may be maintained in angular relation to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved locking device whereby a pair of clamps may be adjustably secured at an angle to each other for the purpose of changing the angular relation of the pieces held by such clamps.

With these and other objects in View` the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side view showing a pair of clamps secured in angular relation to each other by means of my improved locking device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view ,taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The same characters of reference 'designate the same parts in the diierent gures of the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, 2 is a cla-mp of the usual construction, formed 0f an I-beam 8 having a curved end 4 having the usual clamping head at its eXtreme end, the opposite clamping head being swiveled on the end of a clamping screw 5 threaded in the upper end of a standard 6, which is provided at its lower end with jaws adapted to engage the upper horizontal portion of the beam, the standard being slidable along said beam and adapted to be held in adjusted position by means of a web 7 carried thereby and provided with a node 8 which drops into one of the depressions or recesses 9 formed in the upper horizontal portion of the beam. This construction is well known. This clamp 2 will be referred to throughout the specication and claims as the main clamp.

A second clamp is provided, usually smaller than the clamp 2, but o-f similar construction, except that in the embodiment shown the beam portion is not I-shaped, and therefore the standard 11 is of stirrup form at its lower end for engaging the under surface of the beam. I do not, however. regard this feature as material.

For adjustably securing the clamps 2 and 10 inv angular relation to each other, I provide a locking device, which consists of a shoe 12 adapted to slide on the horizontal portion of the I-beamv 3 of the main clamp and having jaws at its underside for engaging the inner surface of said horizontal portion. The top portion of the shoe is provided with an opening for the passage of a rivet 13. Mounted on said shoe is a U- shaped member 14, having an opening therein in which is seated a stirrup 15, the member 14 serving to steady thestirrup and give additional support thereto. The rivet 13 passes through the lower side of the stirrup 15 and is turned over upon itself, thereby securing the shoe 12 and the stirrup 15 together. The upper side of the stirrup 15 is provided with a threaded opening adapted to receive a setscrew 16, the lower end of which bears upon the upper face of the beam 19 of the second or smaller clamp. This beam 19 is so formed as to fit the stirrup when placed therein either on its side or bottom face, the beam being provided at each side thereof with a concave recess 17 extending longitudinally thereof for the purpose of reducing its weight and also serving as a seat for the end of the setscrew 16.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when it is desired to use the pair of clamps located angularly to each other the shoe 12 of the locking device is slid on 'the beam 8 of the main clamp to the desired point. The be'am 19 of the other clamp is then slid through the stirrup 15 until the clamp is brought to the proper angular relation to Jche main clamp. The setscrew 16 is then rotated so as to force the beam 19 down against the member 14. The stirrup is thereby drawn upwardly and its lower side engages the under surface of the beam 19, so that said beam is firmly clamped between the setscrew 16 and the lower side of the stirrup. At the same time, owing to the rivet connection between the stirrup and the shoe l2, the shoe is drawn upwardly so that its jaws are forced into contact with the inner surface of the horizontal portion of the beam 3 of the main clamp. It Will thus be seen that I have provided a locking device whereby on the turning of a single setscrew both clamps are iirmly locked in any desired angular relation to each other. Vhen it is desired to still further change the angular relation of the clamps, the beam 19 may be removed from the stirrup 15 and replaced therein on either of its sides, Whereby the angular relation of the clamps may be very Widely varied.

It is to be understood that by the use of the terms main and smaller clamp it is not my intention to in.l any Way limit my invention, but these terms are used merely as a convenient means of referring to the clamps, nor do I desire to limit my invention to the identical construction herein shown, since the device is capable of considerable mechanical change Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. The combination With a pair of clamps having beam portions, of a locking device including a pair of members one adapted to engage the beam portion of each clamp and slidable thereon, and means for locking said slidable members on said beam portions.

2. The combination with a clamp provided With a beam having a curved portion, of a locking device adapted to slide on said curved portion and provided With means for carrying a second clamp, and mea-ns carried by said locking device for securing said clamps in angular relation to eac-h other.

3. The conibbination of a clamp having a beam portion, a second clamp also having a beam portion, a locking device adapted to engage said beam portions and maintain said clamps in angular relation to eachother, and comprising' a slidable shoe adapted to engage the beam portion of the first clamp, a stirrup adapted to slide on the beam portion of the second clamp, said stirrup and shoe being secured together, and a setscrew threaded in said stirrup and adapted to bear against the beam portion of the second clamp whereby said stirrup and shoe' may be locked on the respective beam portions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signaf ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

RALPH J. REEDER. Vitnesses:

FRANK N. LINDQUIST, MARY E. LINDQUisT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

